Posted on 06/08/2007 2:17:22 PM PDT by Baladas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Backers of a broad immigration overhaul on Friday began efforts to revive the stalled bipartisan package in the U.S. Senate amid partisan bickering over who is to blame for the bill's failure.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who helped lead months of painstaking negotiations that produced the fragile compromise, said: "We are not giving up. We are not giving in."
The bill ties tough border security and workplace enforcement measures to a temporary worker program and a plan to legalize most of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. It also would create a new merit-based system for future immigration.
It was shelved on Thursday after backers failed to win the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to advance to a final vote.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said the Senate could return to the controversial bill at another time, giving hope to the bill's advocates that they may be able to work with other lawmakers to make it happen.
President George W. Bush, who had championed the legislation despite criticism from both the right and the left, will meet with lawmakers next week when he returns from Europe.
"We can get this done," said Sen. Jon Kyl, a conservative Arizona Republican who was a key player in the discussions that produced the delicately balanced compromise.
He and other backers said they would reach out to other lawmakers in an effort to overcome strong opposition.
The bill, a hot-button issue even this far in advance of the November 2008 elections, was broadly criticized. Conservatives argued it would give amnesty to people who broke U.S. laws and unions said the temporary worker program would create an underclass of cheap laborers.
Passions ran high during the two-week debate and Republicans blamed Reid for trying to move too quickly. The bill had attracted dozens of amendments, many from senators who opposed the legislation. Only a portion were considered, but it was enough to unravel the bipartisan agreement.
Republican leaders said they could have reduced the number if they had had more time.
Reid, citing other pressing priorities, pushed to get a final vote by the end of this week as he and fellow Democrats accused Republican opponents of trying amend the bill to death and delay a final vote.
SILVER LININGS
Democrats said Bush needed to get more involved in corralling fellow Republicans on the bill he desperately wants as a major legislative achievement before leaving office in January 2009.
Bush will travel to the Capitol on Tuesday to have lunch with Senate Republicans.
In his weekly radio address released in advance of the usual Saturday broadcast, Bush said the compromise was the best way to fix America's broken immigration system.
"I urge Senator Reid to act quickly to bring this bill back to the Senate floor for a vote, and I urge senators from both parties to support it," Bush said.
Advocates and opponents saw a silver lining in the clouded outlook for the legislation. Craig Regelbrugge, who represents an agriculture group in favor of the comprehensive bill, said a brief cooling-off period might help calm emotions.
"Let's face it, the pot boiled over a little too much," Regelbrugge said. "The best thing to do is turn off the burner."
Sonia Ramirez of the trade union organization AFL-CIO said she hopes to see a bill more palatable to labor. Her group opposed the temporary worker program that business groups backed.
Yeah, guess who’s gonna be waiting when you try to make a comeback, Teddy. We’re not going anywhere.
Bring it on! We’ll continue to fight for truth, justice, and the future of our country.
Mr. President, Tear Down This Bill
http://www.orthodoxnet.com/articles/Banescu/MrPresident_Tear_Down_This_Bill_2007-06-05.php
Just say NO to Amnesty!! Keep calling!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
The price of peace is eternal vigilance folks. We won this battle, but the war is far from over.
They are saying we are going to do this whether you like it or not, you can’t stop us. They are doing nothing less than regrouping. McConnell nattering on about amendments gives the whole thing away. They are going to work out yet another secret deal behind closed doors on amendments that will supposedly fix it. Not. We need to watch and see what legislation gets introduced on a daily basis to determine if they are going to try to do it piecemeal. It is perfectly possible they will bring it up again the last week before August recess and try to cram it through when they’re all trying to get away on vacation. This is not over yet and it is going to get even nastier. They are assuming we will tire of this, shut up and go away, leaving them to get on with what they’re trying to do.
THIS IS WHERE IT MUST START — http://youtube.com/watch?v=ILDyHKLrQo8
Need to send Kyl some tar and feathers!!
They ain’t down yet -
They gonna learn to read and write.
Because they are UNSINKABLE!
>> Sen. Edward Kennedy... said: “We are not giving up. We are not giving in.”
Isn’t it sickening how he sounds all Churchillian when he’s fighting to OPENING OUR BORDERS TO A HUNDRED MILLION INVADERS...
yet when it comes to supporting our troops defending our country against a REAL threat, he’s a weak-kneed Islamonazi appeasing cut-and-run Neville Chamberlain.
Do this country a favor & vote that fat b@$tard out of office, please!!!!!
Sincerely,
The rest of America.
I am SO FRUSTRATED with this idiot President and my party — what in God’s name do we have to do to get them to BACK OFF?!?! It’s like those horror movies where the actress is standing on the grave and an arm reaches up through the ground and grabs her! Is Bush drinking again? What is wrong with him and McConnell and Lott?
Every place that has been raided have had a line of people, out the door and down the block the next day looking for work!
This morning, Laura Ingraham gave thanks to people on Free Republic, among others, for their efforts to de-rail this bill. Let’s keep it up!
tough border securityTotal 100% BS.
What’s scary is that if/when this bill passes....all these “citizens” will be able to vote, right? So, in effect they will be able to....with a stroke of the pen... override the will of the people in coming elections. These “poor” people will vote for anyone they think will give them something for free....i.e., RATS.
"Diles que no batan l'agua,
Por que al cavo lo han de bebir."
Keep contacting your senators and congress critters and put the fear of GOD, and losing their next election in each of their sorry asses.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.